ROUND 1

Predictions

By TJ McCourt

October 23, 2008

Guest Picker

ROUND 1

4! (White) vs. Golden Girls (Gold)

I’d like to say that 4! will be able to win this one handily, but there’s something about the Golden Girls’ roster that makes me a bit uneasy. Any team with members of the Cartel among their ranks is a threat to win every week. Add to that the fact that 4! expects to be playing with a depleted roster this week and you have a delicious recipe for a toss-up. The game between White and Gold will be decided in the microcosm that is Jack Zhang vs. Doug Zhang. Both of these teams are underachieving—two of the most skilled squads with two of the worst records. Who’ll make it click first? My prediction is that Gold goes up early, thanks to some stellar play from their girls, but ultimately 4!’s penchant for comebacks seals them the win.

Prediction: 4! by 2

7 Seas (Navy) vs. No Fear (Royal)

This is the Battle of the Blues Brothers. Who will claim dominance over the short-wavelength side of the team-color spectrum? Without a doubt, No Fear has been trucking along on all cylinders since Week 1, and with, arguably, the best disc-handling corps in the league, they’re in good position to improve their perfect record to 4-0. There’s no doubt that 7 Seas has a strong roster, but as a unit they are unrefined. If Ben can rally his troops and get them to focus, I think the ugly duckling can finally snag a win and topple one of the League’s juggernauts. When push comes to shove, though, I think Matt ”No Fear” Goff is way too intense to let that happen. Royal takes this one, but the 7 Seas put up a swashbuckling struggle. No Fear remains undefeated, for now…

Prediction: No Fear by 3

Red Scare (Red) vs. Colt 32 (Black)

Tisk, tisk, tisk. This one’s too easy. Red, top-heavy and rulebook-bashing, won’t be able to keep their composure in this one. Only the coolest of teams can expect to hang with a team of the Colt’s caliber; the most-spirited team in the league wins easy over the least-spirited team in the league. Black will be sure that everyone on both teams gets plenty of playing time, though, and will dangle victory just out of Red’s reach for the majority of the game.

Prediction: Colt 32 by 4

Hell’s Bells (Silver) vs. Green Goblins (Green)

There’s no question about this one, but don’t worry, Goblins, this week’s a double header. So save some energy for Round 2, and don’t go getting yourself injured in this one.

Prediction: Hell’s Bells by a whopping 9 points

ROUND 2

Green Goblins (Green) vs. Colt 32 (Black)

Sorry, Goblins, but today just isn’t your day. Colt 32’s really going to coast this week, picking up the second of two easy wins in this game. Green, on the other hand, is going to slip further into mediocrity—they just don’t have that big-play potential you need to topple the League’s elite teams this season. Take solace in this, Gobble-gobbles: the playoffs are coming up soon, and ANYTHING could happen then… it’s just not going to happen this week.

Side-prediction: Colt 32 doesn’t make it out of the semi-finals come playoff week.

Prediction: Colt 32 by 5

Red Scare (Red) vs. Golden Girls (Gold)

Oh boy, I think Red Scare is going to be flaming mad after their loss to Black in Round 1, and they’ll be looking to take it out on somebody. Gold’s going to be exhausted after their Round 1 loss to 4!, and aren’t going to have what it takes to stand up the Red Scare’s domino effect of vengeance. Unfortunately for you, Girls, you’re about to become a satellite state. It won’t be SO bad, though, playing puppet for the Red Scare, just ask the Ukraine… or Georgia… or Armenia…

Prediction: Red Scare rolls, frustrated, to victory by 6

No Fear (Royal) vs. 4! (White)

This is the matchup I’ve been waiting for. If you’re looking for a game to watch this week, this is the one. Both teams will be playing at their best after hard-fought victories in Round 1. No Fear, no doubt, has key players at every position, but 4! has depth of roster in its favor. If there’s a fatal flaw, it’s that 4! will be playing without their captain, RJ. Luckily, 4!’s uncommon depth makes them particularly well-suited for just this situation. It’ll really depend on who shows up to this one—whichever team fields the most complete roster wins. I’m hoping it’ll be 4! This one gets capped.

Prediction: 4! by 2

Hell’s Bells (Silver) vs. 7 Seas (Navy)

So, you might be thinking right about now, “What a horrible guest picker! Where are all the upsets?” This one will be big enough to upset the League’s balance of power. I think that 7 Seas will finally find themselves, so to speak, in their Round 1 game against No Fear, finally realizing their potential. With the bitter taste of defeat fresh in their mouths, I don’t think the Seas will allow another unbeaten team to get out of this double-header week unscathed. Hell’s Bells will be complacent after a quick and easy victory in Round 1. The question is, will this leave them feeling fresh, or cold? My prediction: it’s a cold day in Hell, and 7 Seas seizes the opportunity for an epic upset. 7 Seas takes them, and the rest of us, by surprise, before the Bells know what hit them.

Prediction: 7 Seas by 4.